Growth and yield of aerobic rice as influenced by different weed management practices in Tripura (India)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), South Tripura during the kharif season of 2013 and 2014 to study the influence of weed management practices on growth and yield of aerobic rice. The experiment consisting of twelve treatments was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The common weed flora found in the experimental field were Amaranthus viridis, hedyotis corymbosa, Spilanthes acmella, Ludwigia parviflora, Cleome rutidosperma, Malvaestrum coromandalinum among the broad leaf weeds, Digitaria sanguinalis among grasses and Cyperus iria among sedges. Although hand weeding thrice at 15, 30 and 45 DAS recorded the lowest weed dry weight for all types of weed, higher values of growth parameters, yield and yield attributing parameters of upland rice but it was not economically viable. Among the various management practices, the treatment pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg ha-1 at 2 DAS + bispyribac sodium @ 25 g ha-1 at 20 DAS recorded the highest net return and return per rupee invested and appeared to be the most promising and remunerative weed management practice and followed by pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg ha-1 at 2 DAS + one hand weeding at 30 DAS for direct seeded rice under Tripura condition.